Spiritual Meaning:
The hourglass measures time and is a spiritual symbol for the length of our physical lives. In former times, the hourglass was frequently taken as a symbol of death. More properly it is now seen as a measurement of the passage of life.

Psychological / Emotional Perspective:
When we are particularly under stress, we can be overly aware of the running out of time; that it can become an enemy. This is often symbolized in dreams as an hourglass. It is probably from the hourglass that we get the word deadline; when the sand runs out the energy has gone.

Everyday Material Aspects:
In dreams, time is irrelevant. To experience something that measures time is often to alert us to the need for measuring our thoughts and activities. When such a symbol is old-fashioned – as in an hourglass – our perception of time and its management may be old-fashioned. We need to use different, and more precise, ways of measuring those activities.

You might also like to consult the entries for Sand and Time.

Gender / Specific Meanings: